Kyiv: As the Russian offensive edged closer to Kyiv, the prime ministers of Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia are to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday to express the European Union’s unequivocal support. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Jansa are visiting Kyiv, the Chancellery of the Polish prime minister said in a statement. They will meet with President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. The visit has been organized in consultation with the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the chancellery said. The aim of the visit is to confirm the EU’s support for the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and to present a broad package of support for Ukraine and Ukrainians, it said. “The aim of the visit is to express the European Union’s unequivocal support for Ukraine and its freedom and independence,” Fiala wrote on Twitter, adding that the group would present “a broad package of support” for Ukrainians during the trip. Morawiecki wrote on Facebook that the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen had been informed of the trip, which was designed to show solidarity with Ukrainians. The visit comes as the Russian offensive in Ukraine edged closer to central Kyiv on Tuesday even as the two countries kept open a narrow diplomatic channel with more planned talks. Shortly before dawn, large explosions thundered across Kyiv. UNI RN
